Vietnam is a poem written on water and mountains—dynasties etched into citadels, French boulevards softened by coffee aromas, and islands ringed with fishers’ lights. From the Red River Delta to the Gulf of Thailand, you’ll thread together imperial stories, wartime echoes, and a modern café culture that never sits still.

For couples, it’s tailor-made: sunset lanterns in Hoi An, a balcony cabin drifting through limestone karsts, scooter-fed night markets in Saigon, and Phu Quoc’s coral gardens. Expect standout coffee (egg coffee is a must), soul-comforting bowls of phở and bún chả, and an artsy, Instagram-friendly palette at every turn.

Practical notes: Vietnam’s e-visa is straightforward for most nationalities; check validity before traveling. Weather varies—cooler in the north (Dec–Feb), beach-perfect in central Vietnam (Mar–Aug), and dry season for Phu Quoc (Nov–Apr). Rideshares like Grab make city hops easy and budget-friendly.

Hanoi

Hanoi balances timeworn pagodas and colonial villas with a kinetic Old Quarter, where train tracks brush café tables and street stalls perfume the night. It’s a city for dawn walks on Hoàn Kiếm Lake, late-night phở, and long, unhurried coffees.

Instagram hits with fewer crowds: sunrise on Long Biên Bridge, mosaic-lined Phùng Hưng murals, and West Lake’s peachy dusk. Food lovers can chase bun cha, cha ca turmeric fish, and egg coffee where they were perfected.

Days 1–4: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and a crowd-free bay

• Orientation & coffee hop: Start in the Old Quarter—sip egg coffee at Giang Cafe (originators), then hit Blackbird Coffee for specialty pours. Wander St. Joseph’s Cathedral for a Paris-meets-Hanoi photo moment.
• Street eats & date-night dining: Try Bún Chả Hương Liên (Obama’s pick); Cha Ca Thăng Long for sizzling dill-turmeric fish; Pho 10 Lý Quốc Sư for classic phở. For a romantic table, book Home Hanoi or T.U.N.G Dining (chef-driven tasting menus).
• Ninh Binh day trip (boat + bikes): Karst valleys at Tam Cốc, the ancient capital Hoa Lư, and Mua Cave Viewpoint for sweeping photos. Consider a small-group route that mixes backroads cycling and riverside lunch.
• Lan Ha Bay from Cát Bà (less touristy): Swap the main Halong crowds for Lan Ha’s quieter coves—kayak, swim, and sleep on board for those sunrise-deck photos. It’s the romantic highlight of the north.
• Nightlife: Sip bia hơi at Ta Hien Corner, then a speakeasy cocktail at Polite & Co or The Haflington for vintage vibes.

Where to stay (Hanoi): Mid-range romance at Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa; classic splurge at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi; view-rich modern at Lotte Hotel Hanoi. Browse more stays on Hotels.com (Hanoi) or VRBO (Hanoi).

Curated activities (Hanoi & nearby):

Hanoi Jeep Tour: Food, Culture and Fun by Vietnam Army Jeep

Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour: Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave (Boat & Bike)

Lan Ha–Ha Long Bay 2D/1N from Cat Ba (less touristy)

Getting in and getting around: Fly into Hanoi (HAN). Compare fares on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. In town, use Grab cars, walk the Old Quarter, or hire a cyclo for short scenic rides.

Da Nang & Hoi An

Da Nang is Vietnam’s beachy modernist—bridges lit like neon dragons, a deep café roster, and superb seafood. Just south, Hoi An glows with lanterns, tailor shops, and riverfront dining.

Romance lives in sunrise on My Khe Beach, scooter rides over the Hải Vân Pass, and twilight drifting on the Thu Bồn River. Photographers will love Marble Mountains’ viewpoints and Hoi An’s ochre facades.

Days 5–7: Coastal romance, viewpoints, and lantern-lit nights

• Golden Bridge & mountains: Ride the record-long cable car to Ba Na Hills for the surreal hand-held Golden Bridge and mountain air. Arrive early for soft morning light and fewer crowds.
• Seafood & specialties: In Da Nang, slurp mì Quảng at Mì Quảng Bà Mua and crunch bánh xèo at Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng; grill clams and squid at Bé Mặn Seafood. In Hoi An, grab bánh mì at Bánh Mì Phượng, cao lầu at Cao Lầu Bà Bé, and book a riverside date at Morning Glory Original.
• Less-touristy wanders: Scoot the Sơn Trà Peninsula to the 1,000-year banyan for cliff views and monkey sightings. Cycle Hoi An’s Cam Kim Island backroads through boatyards and rice paddies; time sunset at An Bang Beach.
• Wellness & night sips: Unwind at La Spa Hoi An or Na Spa. For drinks, try 1920s-style cocktails at Dive Bar, or beachy sundowners at Soul Kitchen.

Where to stay: In Da Nang, beachfront classic Furama Resort Danang or budget-friendly Danang Backpackers Hostel. In Hoi An, riverside elegance Anantara Hoi An Resort, great-value Hoi An Dream City Hotel, or beachside Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa. Browse Hotels.com (Da Nang), VRBO (Da Nang), Hotels.com (Hoi An), and VRBO (Hoi An).

Curated activity:

Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Deluxe Small Group

Getting there from Hanoi (morning departure): Fly HAN → DAD (~1h20; ~$35–$80). Compare on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. Train lovers can take the Reunification Express (~15–16h soft-sleeper) via Trip.com Trains.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Saigon is electric—French-era boulevards, 24/7 cafés, markets humming at midnight, and a deep bench of street-food legends. It’s also where wartime history and new-wave mixology share street corners.

For a romantic tilt, pair sunset rooftop drinks with alleyway food crawls, then a spa session the morning after. Photographers: don’t miss the pink Tan Định Church and the skyline from the Saigon River banks.

Days 8–9: History, street food, nightlife, and day-trip adventure

• City by vintage jeep: Glide past the Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral (facade restoration ongoing), and the Reunification Palace, with breezy open-air views perfect for photos.
• Eat like a local: Slurp pho at Phở Hòa Pasteur; sizzling pancakes at Bánh Xèo 46A; soulful cơm tấm at Cơm Tấm Ba Ghiền. For seafood, hit Ốc Đào for snails and shellfish in chili-lime glaze.
• Nightlife for two: Cocktails at The Alley 50 or Layla – Eatery & Bar; craft beer at Pasteur Street Brewing. For a big view, time a pre-dinner drink to golden hour.
• Cu Chi & Mekong in a day: Crawl through (widened) war-era tunnels, then trade it for coconut groves and boat rides on the delta—big contrast, huge stories.

Where to stay: Boutique romance at Silverland Yen Hotel; design-forward splurge at The Reverie Saigon; spacious apartment-style at Sherwood Residence; social-budget at The Common Room Project. Browse Hotels.com (Ho Chi Minh City) or VRBO (Ho Chi Minh City).

Curated activities (Saigon):

Ho Chi Minh City Private Half-Day Tour by U.S. Army Jeep

Saigon Street Food & Sightseeing by Motorbike

Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta VIP Tour by Limousine

Getting there from Da Nang (morning departure): Fly DAD → SGN (~1h30; ~$35–$80) via Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights.

Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s island exhale—palm-fringed beaches, clear-water snorkel sites, and fiery sunsets that seem to last forever. Beyond the sand, pepper farms, fish sauce houses, and fishing hamlets add character and flavor.

Adventure together by speedboat to the An Thoi archipelago, then float in the shallows at Starfish Beach. Evenings are for squid-fishing trips, spa time, and rooftop cocktails over Duong Dong’s twinkling lights.

Days 10–11: Island time—clear water, coral, and sunsets

• An Thoi islands by boat: Snorkel coral gardens around Hòn Gầm Ghì and Hòn Mây Rút; choose small-group boats for quieter reefs and better photos. Pack reef-safe sunscreen.
• Iconic photos & rides: Ride the Hòn Thơm cable car for aerial coastline shots; go golden-hour at Ông Lang Beach; catch bioluminescence by kayak on calm nights.
• Local tastes: Try seafood hotpot and grilled prawns at the Night Market; sample Phu Quoc fish sauce and pepper at small family producers. For a sky-view date, head to a hilltop bar like Chuồn Chuồn Bistro.
• Spa & slow mornings: Book a couples massage at Spa by JW or Akoya Spa, then linger over Vietnamese coffee and tropical fruit for breakfast.

Where to stay: Splash-out romance at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa; family-friendly pools and beach at Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phu Quoc; budget social vibes at Langchia Hostel. Browse more on Hotels.com (Phu Quoc) or VRBO (Phu Quoc).

Getting there from Saigon (morning departure): Fly SGN → PQC (~1h10; ~$30–$70) via Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. Taxis and ride-hailing cover most hotels in 15–30 minutes.

Suggested pacing (multi-day blocks)

• Days 1–4: Hanoi + Ninh Binh + Lan Ha Bay (history, coffee, jeep tour; full-day rural escape; 1-night bay cruise from Cát Bà).
• Days 5–7: Da Nang & Hoi An (Golden Bridge, beaches, Sơn Trà viewpoints, lantern-lit dinners and spa).
• Days 8–9: Ho Chi Minh City (vintage jeep city loop, street-food motorbike tour, Cu Chi & Mekong day).
• Days 10–11: Phu Quoc (An Thoi boat day, cable car, spa, sunset sips; fly out).

Intercity travel cost & timing at a glance

• Hanoi → Da Nang: Fly ~1h20, ~$35–$80. Train ~15–16h soft-sleeper. Book via Kiwi.com, Trip.com Flights, or Trip.com Trains.
• Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City: Fly ~1h30, ~$35–$80 via Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights.
• Ho Chi Minh City → Phu Quoc: Fly ~1h10, ~$30–$70 via Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights.

Romantic and Instagram-worthy extras (less touristy picks)

• Hanoi: Dawn portraits on Long Biên Bridge; hidden courtyard cafés like Hidden Gem for recycled-art backdrops; West Lake lotus in season (Jun–Aug).
• Ninh Binh: Quiet golden-hour rowboat at Tràng An’s side piers or Thung Nham Bird Park (fewer boats, more birds).
• Da Nang: Sơn Trà’s cliff road and thousand-year banyan; sunrise paddle at My Khe; Marble Mountains’ lesser-used entrances for solitude.
• Hoi An: Bicycle to Tra Quế at sunrise; post-sunset reflections along the Japanese Bridge viewed from the eastern embankment.
• Saigon: District 3’s alley cafés; pink Tan Định Church shot from across Hai Bà Trưng at early morning.
• Phu Quoc: Rạch Vẹm (Starfish Beach) for translucent shallows—observe starfish gently and keep them submerged for ethical photos.

This 11-day route balances big-name icons with quieter corners, weaving food, coffee, spa time, and a couple-friendly rhythm from north to south. With short flights and curated experiences, you’ll have maximum time for golden hours, night markets, and those just-for-two moments.